Last week we were given thick imagery in both Ezekiel and Revelation of what is going on in heaven in regard to the four living creatures. If you are like me, you have questions.
Most scholars believe the four creatures represent the four gospels.
The man is believed to represent the Gospel of Matthew because the book begins with Jesus' genealogy as a human.
Mark can be symbolized by the lion. The book of Mark starts off not with Jesus but His forerunner, John the Baptist who was like a roaring lion. The seed that grows by itself (Mark 2:26-29) is only mentioned in the Gospel of Mark. This idea peers back to the garden where vegetation grew without toil and man had dominion. The "king of the jungle" easily encapsulates ideas of dominance.
Luke is the only gospel that details Jesus' birth and infancy. Labor is painful and the mother sacrifices herself for new life. The Gospel of Luke is depicted by an ox because of all the gospels, Luke focuses the most on the sacrificial character of Jesus and oxen were used in the Temple sacrifices.
The Gospel of John is portrayed by the eagle. John emphasized Jesus as lovingly caring for Israel and His people. Exodus 19 described God as delivering the Israelites out of Egypt as on eagle's wings. Eagles are an expression of the prophetic because of the eagle's higher perspective.
Some theologians believe that the four creatures symbolize God's divine timeline. First was the time of priests and sacrifices (ox), secondly was the time of kings (lion), then the time of prophets (eagle), and finally the Messiah (man).
When I think of an ox, I think of carrying a heavy load. Matthew teaches us that the Lord has rest for the weary. In this passage Jesus is inviting all to come to Him and take His yoke and learn from Him.
At the beginning of the year, I was given the word “render.” You might be surprised that render has six meanings. While I was looking up the definition my bathroom plaster was being replaced and one of the meanings is “cover stone or brick with a coat of plaster.” The definition served as an ironclad confirmation. At the time, the definition which felt the most significant was “melt down.”
Now, almost six months later, the Lord reveals Himself as an ox. The sacrificial, burned on the alter, burden carrying ox.
Have you ever been rendered by the Lord? I have gone through a stripping season before but it dealt with sin and the things of the world. This time the removal is of the dreams God has given me over the years.
Why would God call me or anyone to die to dreams that He Himself birthed?
There are a few reasons. For one, I may have gotten a dream from God but started “making it happen” out of my own strength instead of relying on God’s Spirit. I may have also taken up a dream that I was never meant to hold onto which could be hindering God’s actual plans.
It may just be that God is jealous and I have made my God-dreams into idols before Him. Another option is that He just wants me to be like the twenty-four elders and throw my crowns at His feet. It could be a little of all those possibilities or fully all of them.
I was surprised to learn that oxen are often castrated to remove their aggression which makes them more submissive for labor. If that doesn't preach, I don't know what does.
While I may not have to figure it all out, I believe that I do need to surrender my dreams to God on a new level. The ox symbolizes ultimate surrender and dying to the flesh for God.
How would you describe the season of life you are currently in? Do you connect with God to processes the ever changes stages of life? Are you learning the lessons God has for you at this time in your life?
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